Vertical ceiling assembly and clip elements therefor

ABSTRACT

A ceiling assembly including a plurality of suspended stringers parallel to each other and an array of horizontally elongated panels extending beneath and transversely of the stringers in spaced parallel relation to each other with major surfaces of the panels oriented vertically, wherein the panels are suspended from the stringers by means of clip elements each having an upper portion received in slots in a stringer and a lower, spring clip portion gripping an upper marginal portion of a panel. Each stringer is a downwardly-opening channel member having paired opposed slots formed therein. The upper portion of each clip element has a pair of opposed tabs respectively received in an opposed pair of such slots, and shaped so as to be readily insertable but to be effectively locked in place after insertion in the stringer slots. The clip elements can be bent intermediate their upper and lower portions for orienting the major surface planes of the panels at a desired angle to the stringers, so that the panel major surface planes are vertical when the stringers are pitched at an angle to the horizontal, as over a stairway.

United States Patent [1 1 Englund et a1.

[4 1 Oct. 14, 1975 VERTICAL CEILING ASSEMBLY AND CLIP ELEIVIENTS THEREFOR [75] Inventors: James A. Englund, Middlesex;

Stephen Popek, Roselle, both of NJ.

[73] Assignee: Alcan Aluminum Corporation,

Cleveland, Ohio [22] Filed: Apr. 22, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 462,625

[52] U.S. Cl. 52/489; 52/484; 52/665 [51] Int. Cl. E04B 5/52 [58] Field of Search 52/484, 485, 488, 489,

52/633, 483, 486, 493, 665, 758 A, 760, 144, 145, 39; 240/78 R, 78 LD, 9 R, 108 R; 248/343 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,774,024 11/1973 Deaton 240/78 LD FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,104,351 2/1968 United Kingdom 52/484 279,859 7/1969 Austria 52/484 Primary Examiner.lohn E. Murtagh Attorney, Agent, or FirmCooper, Dunham, Clark, Griffin & Moran ABSTRACT A ceiling assembly including a plurality of suspended stringers parallel to each other and an array of horizontally elongated panels extending beneath and transversely of the stringers in spaced parallel relation to each other with major surfaces of the panels oriented vertically, wherein the panels are suspended from the stringers by means of clip elements each having an upper portion received in slots in a stringer and a lower, spring clip portion gripping an upper marginal portion of a panel. Each stringer is a downwardlyopening channel member having paired opposed slots formed therein. The upper portion of each clip element has a pair of opposed tabs respectively received in an opposed pair of such slots, and shaped so as to be readily insertable but to be effectively locked in place after insertion in the stringer slots. The clip elements can be bent intermediate their upper and lower portions for orienting the major surface planes of the panels at a desired angle to the stringers, so that the panel major surface planes are vertical when the stringers are pitched at an angle to the horizontal, as over a stairway.

13 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures US. Patent OCt. 14, 1975 Sheet 1 013 3,911,638

US. Patent Oct. 14, 1975 Sheet 2 of 3 3,911,638

US. Patent Oct. 14, 1975 Shset 3 of3 VERTICAL CEILING ASSEMBLY AND CLIP ELENIENTS THEREFOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to suspended ceiling systems, and more particularly to so-called vertical ceiling systems.

Suspended ceilings are widely used in interior constructions for aesthetic and other reasons. A typical suspended ceiling comprises an assembly of panels spaced below the true or structural ceiling of a room, and carried by horizontal stringers or like members which are themselves suspended from the true ceiling.

One form of suspended ceiling employs elongated metal panels extending horizontally in spaced parallel relation to each other with their major surfaces lying in vertical planes. Such a ceiling, herein for convenience termed a vertical ceiling (because of the vertical orientation of the panel major surfaces), has an unusual and attractive decorative appearance, and may also serve to conceal structures such as lights, sprinklers, speakers, ventilation equipment, etc., mounted in the space or plenum above the suspended ceiling, while permitting passage of illumination, water, sound or air between the panels.

Owing to the vertical orientation of the panels, the types of structures commonly employed to mount a conventional suspended ceiling of horizontal panels are inappropriate for use in a vertical ceiling system. It is therefore necessary to provide a special mounting or support arrangement for a vertical ceiling. Desirable criteria for such an arrangement include low cost, ease of installation, and variability of design, as well as security and stability of support for the panels.

Particular problems are encountered in providing a vertical ceiling (or portion thereof) that is pitched, i.e., at an angle to the horizontal, as over a stairway. In such case, the lower edges of successive panels must lie in a sloping rather than horizontal plane, but the major surface planes of the individual panels must still be vertically oriented. It would be especially desirable to provide panel-mounting structures capable of use in either horizontally extending or pitched vertical ceiling assemblies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention broadly contemplates the provision of a ceiling assembly comprising a plurality of suspended, parallel, elongated carriers or stringers each having a plurality of slots provided at spaced intervals along its length; means for suspending the stringers from above; an array of horizontally elongated panels each having vertically oriented major surfaces, extending in spaced parallel relation to each other beneath and transversely of the stringers; and a plurality of clip elements, each having an upper portion seated in a slot or slots of one of the stringers and a lower spring-clip portion grippingly engaging an upper marginal portion of one of the panels, for suspending the panels from the stringers, each panel being suspended by plural clip elements respectively seated in plural stringers.

The invention further contemplates the use of clip elements each initially essentially flat but bendable about a horizontal line intermediate its upper and lower portions. The interengagement of the clip upper portion and stringer slots is such that, when the clip is flat,

it extends perpendicularly from the stringer, for suspending a panel with vertically oriented major surfaces from a horizontally oriented stringer, i.e., to provide a ceiling assembly wherein all the panels are at a common level. By bending the clips, however, the major surface planes of the suspended panels may be oriented at an acute angle to the long dimension of the stringers, to provide the desired vertical panel surface orientation when the stringers are pitched at an angle to the horizontal in a pitched or sloping vertical ceiling assembly. Thus the same assembly elements stringers, clips, and panels may be used to produce either a level or a pitched vertical ceiling.

As a particular feature of the invention, each of the stringers may be a downwardly opening channel member having diverging legs with slots formed in opposed pairs in the two legs; and the upper portion of each clip element may comprise a pair of opposed tabs respectively insertable in an opposed pair of slots provided in the two legs of a stringer. The two tabs of each clip element may be respectively bent in opposed directions for engagement with edges on respectively different sides of the slots in which they are respectively inserted. Also, the lower edge of each tab may have its outer portion offset to form a shoulder for engaging the lower edge of the slot in which the tab is inserted. To facilitate insertion of the tabs in the slots, one of the tabs of each clip element may be longer than the other tab, and the lower edges of both tabs may slope upwardly and outwardly. This described tab structure permits ready assembly of the clip elements with the stringers, yet effectively locks the clip elements in the stringers once they are inserted.

The lower or spring clip portion of each tab element may comprise a plurality of depending spring fingers for gripping the upper marginal portion of a vertical ceiling panel, these fingers being so shaped that alternate ones of them respectively bear against opposite major surfaces of the gripped panel. One or more longitudinal ribs may be formed in the upper marginal portion of each panel, and the spring fingers of each clip element may correspondingly have one or more horizontal grooves positioned for register with such rib or ribs to aid in securely holding the panels.

Preferably, the supports for the stringers may be adjustable in length to facilitate location of the suspended ceiling assembly at a desired distance below the true or permanent ceiling below which it is mounted.

The foregoing combination of features provides a suspended vertical ceiling assembly of single construction, easy to install, yet secure and stable after installation, and affording desired variability in such design features as ceiling height and pitch, and spacing of panels.

Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description hereinbelow set forth, together with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a level vertical ceiling assembly embodying the present invention in a particular form;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in section, of the ceiling of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view of the same ceiling assembly, taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2; i

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view illustrating insertion of a clip element in a stringer;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged side elevational view of one of the clip elements of the assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an end elevational view of the clip element of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the same clip element;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating an arrangement for splicing two aligned panels;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating an arrangement for splicing two aligned stringers; and

FIG. 1 l is a fragmentary elevational view of a pitched ceiling assembly embodying the invention, wherein the panels are oriented with their major surfaces vertical but at an acute angle to the long dimension of the stringers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring first to FIG. 1, the embodiment of the invention there illustrated is a suspended level vertical ceiling assembly 10 comprising an array of horizontally elongated ceiling panels 11 having vertically oriented major surfaces, and extending in spaced parallel relation to each other at a common level spaced below a permanent ceiling (not shown). In accordance with the invention, and as a particular feature thereof, the panels 11 are individually suspended by means of hangers or clip elements 12 from a plurality of horizontally elongated carriers or stringers 14 which extend, in spaced parallel relation to each other, above and at right angles to the panels 11. Each panel thus extends beneath plural stringers and is connected to each of them by a separate clip element 12, while each stringer overlies plural panels each connected to it by a separate clip element. Further, each stringer is suspended from the superjacent permanent ceiling by a plurality of supports 15 spaced along the length of the stringer. The suspended vertical ceiling thereby provided may, for example, serve to mask equipment such as a sprinkler system disposed in the plenum or space between it and the permanent ceiling, while permitting downflow of water from the sprinkler system, and may be designed to present an attractive, decorative appearance.

Each of the stringers 14 is a downwardly opening metal channel member having a central web 16 and diverging legs 17a and 17b that flare outwardly along their respective lower margins 18a and 18b (FIGS. 2 and 3). A plurality of vertical slots 19a (i.e., slots extending transversely of the long dimension of the stringer, with their axes lying in vertical planes) are provided in and spaced equidistantly (e.g. 2 inches apart) along the length of the leg 17a of each stringer, while a corresponding plurality of identical slots 19b are provided in the opposite leg 17b of each stringer, in register with the slots 19a so as to constitute therewith a succession of pairs of opposed slots distributed along the stringer length. In addition, small holes 190 and 19d are provided in the legs 17a and 17b, respectively, directly above the slots, to facilitate connection of splicing elements and/or some forms of stringersuspending means to the stringers, as hereinafter further explained. The plural stringers of the assembly 10 are suspended in such positions that the slots of each stringer are aligned with the slots of each other stringer in the assembly. The stringers may be spaced apart by any convenient distance, e.g. up to about 7 feet.

The panels 11 are formed e.g. from aluminum or other metal strip, and have opposed vertical flat major surfaces 20a and 20b. In its lower portion, each panel may be formed as shown in FIGS. 3 and 9 with an outward bend 20c and a marginal channel flange 21. In the upper portion of each panel are formed two spaced longitudinal ribs 22 and 23 parallel to the upper edge of the panel. For purposes of protection and appearance, the panels may be painted or otherwise coated on all surfaces.

Each of the hangers or clip elements 12 (FIGS. 4 8) is formed from a single, initially flat piece of metal. The upper portion 24 of each clip element is vertically bifurcated to provide two tabs 25a and 25b respectively projecting horizontally in opposite directions from the vertical center line of the clip element. These two tabs are shaped for insertion, respectively, into an opposed pair of slots 19a and 19b in a stringer 14. Below the tabs the sides of the clip element are cut away, as indicated at 26a and 26b, to provide clearance for insertion of the tabs in stringer slots.

To facilitate insertion of the tabs in a stringer, the tab 25a is somewhat longer than the tab 25b, and the respective lower edges 27a and 27b of the two tabs slope upwardly and outwardly, while the outer upper corners of the tabs are rounded. Each of the tab lower edges is offset in its outer portion to provide a shoulder (28a or 28b) for engaging the lower edge of the slot in which the tab is inserted. As shown in FIG. 5, for assembly with a stringer 14, the upper portion of the clip element 12 is placed within the stringer channel and the longer tab 25a is first inserted in slot 19a in stringer leg 17a (or in slot 19b of leg 17b); then the shorter tab 25b is snapped into place in the opposite slot 19b in stringer leg 17b (or in slot 19a of leg 17a). The engagement of shoulders 28a and 28b with the lower edges of the slots then retains the clip element effectively locked in place in the stringer.

As best seen in FIGS. 4, 7 and 8, the two tabs are bent slightly (along downwardly diverging lines 29a and 29b, respectively) in opposite directions out of the initial major surface plane of the clip element. When the tabs are fully inserted in the slots 19a and 19b, tab 25a bears against one of the two vertical side edges of the slot 19a, and tab 25b bears against the other of the two vertical side edges of the slot 19b (i.e., the two tabs respectively bear against diagonally opposite side edges of their respective slots), owing to the described oppositely bent arrangement of the tabs, thereby enhancing the positional stability of the clip element relative to the stringer.

In its lower portion 30, each clip element is divided into, three parallel depending spring fingers 30a, 30b, and 300, each having a free lower end. The upper part of each finger is bent first outwardly away from the major plane of the clip element and then back toward the major plane of the clip element, so as to form a spring; as shown, the central finger 30b is bent in directions opposite to the directions of the bends of the outer two fingers 30a and 300, so that when the upper portion of a panel 11 is inserted between the fingers, alternate ones of the fingers respectively bear against opposite major surfaces of the panel, thus clamping and holding the panel between them by spring action.

The spring fingers respectively have central horizontal grooves 32a, 32b and 32c positioned for register with the upper longitudinal rib 22 of a panel 11 when the upper portion of the panel is inserted between the fingers. Also, the lower ends of the fingers are respectively bent outwardly at 33a, 33b, and 33c to conform to the lower rib 23 of the panel. Consequently, rib 22 is received in grooves 32a, 32b and 32c and finger portions 33a, 33b and 330 bear against rib 23, for assured positionally stable retention of the panel by the fingers 30a, 30b, and 300, which together constitute a spring clip for gripping the panel.

Any of various kinds of elements may be used as supports for suspending the stringers from a permanent ceiling. One presently preferred form of support, shown at in FIGS. 2 and 3, includes a first vertical rod 36 having an eye 37 at its upper end for engaging a hook (not shown) mounted in a permanent ceiling; a second, lower vertical rod 38 having an eye 39 at its lower end for supporting a stringer 14 when rod 38 is inserted upwardly through a hole 40 in the stringer web 16 from within the stringer channel; and a spring clamp 42 for adjustably holding the rods 36 and 38 together. Clamp 42 is a resilient. C-shaped metal member having upper and lower legs 43 and 44 with aligned holes 45 and 46 respectively provided therein. Rods 36 and 38 pass through these holes in contiguous, overlapping relation. The legs 43 and 44 have a resilient divergent bias which causes the edges of holes 45 and 46 to bear against, and clamp together, the overlapping rods 36 and 38 extending therethrough; i.e., legs 43 and 44, when unstressed, tend to spring open to the diverging, clamping position shown in solid lines in FIG. 2, thereby holding the rods by spring forces. When the legs are compressed together manually into substantial parallelism (dotted lines in FIG. 2), rod 43 and 44 are released for relative axial movement to vary the overall length of the support 15. A plurality of these supports 15 are connected to each stringer, spaced at intervals along its length; if the permanent ceiling varies in elevation, different supports 15 may be adjusted to different lengths so as to suspend the stringers at a common horizontal level.

If the dimension of the assembly 10 longitudinally of the panels is greater than the length of a single panel, two panels 11 may be spliced together endwise as shown in FIG. 9, by means of a spring clip 48 fitted over the top edge of the two panels at the joint between them, and a short channel section 49 press-fitted into the lower marginal channel flanges 21 of the two panels to bridge the joint. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 10, two stringers 14 may be spliced endwise by bridging the joint between them with a channel section 50 fitted over the tops of the stringers and secured thereto as by blind rivets 52 or other suitable fasteners, inserted through the aforementioned stringer holes 190 and 19d and through corresponding holes in channel section 50.

In assembling the vertical ceiling of FIG. 1, clip elements 12 are inserted (in the manner already described) in the slots 19a and 19b of the stringers 14, at

positions along the stringers corresponding to the desired spacing between adjacent panels 11. For instance, assuming that the slots 19 are spaced at intervals of 2 inches, a clip element 12 is inserted in each opposed pair of slots in each stringer if it is desired to space the panels two inches apart (FIG. 3); or a clip element is inserted only in every second pair of slots, if 4-inch spacing between panels is desired (FIG. 11). The stringers are then connected by supports 15 to the permanent ceiling, the supports being adjusted in length as necessary to position the stringers at a common horizontal level of desired height.

With the stringers thus suspended, the lower springclip portions of the elements 12 extend therefrom; the stringers are so disposed that corresponding clip elements on all the stringers are aligned in horizontal rows perpendicular to the long dimension of the stringers. A panel 11 is now mounted on the clip elements constituting one such row (i.e., one clip element on each stringer) by snap-fitting the upper marginal portion of the panel into the spring fingers of each clip element, and this step is repeated until all the panels are mounted in place.

If it is desired that the stringers be horizontal to provide a level ceiling assembly as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the upper and lower portions of each clip element are maintained in a common vertical plane. To provide a pitched or sloping assembly of panels progressively differing in level but still having their major surfaces oriented vertically as shown in FIG. 11, each clip element 12 is bent about a horizontal line intermediate its upper and lower portions such that the lower portion remains in a vertical plane but the upper portion lies in a plane pitched at an angle thereto; to this end, the physical properties and thickness of the clip metal are such as to permit bending about the aforementioned horizontal line and to rigidly retain the bent shape when a panel is suspended from the clip. A bend line 55 may, if desired, be pre-scored in each clip element (FIG. 6). The stringer 14 are suspended at an angle to the horizontal, i.e., at the desired pitch of the ceiling assembly; as will be understood, the angle at which the clips are bent is determined by this desired pitch angle, so that the major surfaces of the panels remain vertical while the overall assembly is pitched with successive panels positioned at progressively different levels, for example over a stairway or the like. Thus the same components stringers, clips, and panels, may be used to produce either a level ceiling or a pitched ceilmg.

Also, in FIG. 11, the stringers are shown as suspended from a fixed ceiling by means of hanger wires 57 inserted through the holes and 19d and anchored by twisting of their ends, rather than by means of the above-described supports 15. The hanger wires may also be used to support a level ceiling assembly, and indeed, if desired, the stringers may be fastened directly to a fixed ceiling or portion thereof, with suitable fasteners (not shown) e.g. inserted through holes 40 and/or 190 and 19d.

The described ceiling assembly is quickly and easily installed, with relatively few and simple manipulations requiring no specialized skills or tools, and is constituted of readily fabricated, mechanically simple parts with advantageous economy of material; yet it is advantageously stable and secure owing in particular to the structure of the clip elements and their cooperation with the panels and stringers. A special advantage of the assembly is the design flexibility affords, e.g. with respect to ceiling height, panel spacing, and pitch, using the same standardized parts.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the features and embodiments hereinabove specifically set forth but may be carried out in other ways without departure from its spirit.

We claim:

1. A ceiling assembly comprising a. a plurality of spaced, parallel, elongated stringers each having a plurality of slots provided at spaced intervals along its length;

b. means for suspending said stringers, substantially in a common plane, from superjacent structure;

.c. an array of horizontally elongated panels, each having opposed major surfaces oriented vertically,

extending in spaced parallel relation to each other beneath and transversely of said stringers; and

d. a plurality of clip elements, each having an upper portion seated in a slot of one of said stringers so as to be held thereby and a lower spring-clip portion grippingly engaging an upper marginal portion of one of said panels, for suspending said panels from said stringers, each said panel being suspended by plural clip elements respectively seated in plural ones of said stringers;

each of said stringers being a downwardly opening channel member having two downwardly diverging legs, said slots being provided in opposed pairs in said legs and extending transversely of the length of said stringers; and

f. the upper portion of each said clip element comprising a pair of opposed tabs respectively inserted in opposed slots formed respectively in the two legs of one of said stringers.

2. An assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein a. each of said slots has opposite side edges lying in parallel planes; and

b. the tabs of each said clip element are respectively bent in opposed directions out of parallelism with the side edges of the slots in which they are inserted, for engagement with edges on respectively different sides of the slots in which they are inserted, thereby to stabilize the position of the clip element.

3. An assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein one of the tab members of each said clip element has a greater horizontal extent than the other tab member of the same clip element, to facilitate insertion of the tabs into opposed slots of a stringer.

4. An assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein each tab of each said clip element has an upwardly and outwardly sloping lower edge with a shoulder provided therein to engage the lower edge of a slot in which the tab is inserted.

5. An assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the spring clip portion of each said clip element comprises a plurality of depending spring fingers alternately resiliently biased in opposite directions for gripping the upper marginal portion of a panel inserted between them.

6. An assembly as defined in claim 5, wherein a. the upper marginal portion of each of said panels has at least one longitudinal rib formed therein, and

b. the spring fingers of each said clip elements have at least one groove formed therein for register with said one rib of a panel gripped by the spring fingers.

7. An assembly as defined in claim 6, wherein a. the upper marginal portion of each of said panels has a second longitudinal rib formed therein below and parallel to said one rib, and

b. the lower extremity of each spring finger of each said clip element is bent to conform to said second rib of a panel gripped by the spring fingers.

8. An assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said stringers extend horizontally at a common level, and wherein the upper and lower portions of each said clip element are formed integrally and lie substantially in a common vertical plane, for suspending panels with major surfaces of the panels oriented vertically.

9. An assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said stringers are pitched with their long dimensions at a common angle to the horizontal, and wherein the upper and lower portions of each said clip element are formed integrally, with the lower portion lying substantially in a vertical plane and the upper portion bent at an angle thereto, for suspending panels from the pitched stringers with major surfaces of the panels oriented vertically.

10. A ceiling assembly comprising a. a plurality of spaced, parallel, elongated stringers each having a plurality of slots provided at spaced intervals along its length;

b. means for suspending said stringers, substantially in a common plane, from superjacent structure; c. an array of horizontally elongated panels, each having opposed major surfaces oriented vertically, extending in spaced parallel relation to each other beneath and transversely of said stringers; and

d. a plurality of clip elements, each having an upper portion seated in a slot of oneof said stringers so as to be held thereby and a lower spring-clip portion grippingly engaging an upper marginal portion of one of said panels, for suspending said panels from said stringers, each said panel being suspended by plural clip elements respectively seated in plural ones of said stringers;

e. the spring clip portion of each said clip element comprising a plurality of depending spring fingers alternately resiliently biased in opposite directions for gripping the upper marginal portion of a panel inserted between them.

11. An assembly as defined in claim 10, wherein a. the upper marginal portion of each of said panels has at least one longitudinal rib formed therein, and

b. the spring fingers of each said clip element having at least one groove formed therein for register with said one rib of a panel gripped by the spring fingers.

12. An assembly as defined in claim 11, wherein a. the upper marginal portion of each of said panels has a second longitudinal rib formed therein below and parallel to said one rib, and

b. the lower extremity of each spring finger of each said clip element is bent to conform to said second rib of a panel gripped by the spring fingers.

13. A ceiling assembly comrising a. a plurality of spaced, parallel, elongated stringers each having a plurality of slots provided at spaced intervals along its length;

b. means for suspending said stringers, substantially in a common plane, from superjacent structure; c. an array of horizontally elongated panels, each having opposed major surfaces oriented vertically, extending in spaced parallel relation to each other beneath and transversely of said stringers; and

d. a plurality of clip elements, each having an upper portion seated in a slot of one of said stringers so f. the upper and lower portions of each said clip element being formed integrally, with the lower portion lying substantially in a vertical plane and the upper portion bent at an angle thereto, for suspending panels from the pitched stringers with major surfaces of the panels oriented vertically. 

1. A ceiling assembly comprising a. a plurality of spaced, parallel, elongated stringers each having a plurality of slots provided at spaced intervals along its length; b. means for suspending said stringers, substantially in a common plane, from superjacent structure; c. an array of horizontally elongated panels, each having opposed major surfaces oriented vertically, extending in spaced parallel relation to each other beneath and transversely of said stringers; and d. a plurality of clip elements, each having an upper portion seated in a slot of one of said stringers so as to be held thereby and a lower spring-clip portion grippingly engaging an upper marginal portion of one of said panels, for suspending said panels from said stringers, each said panel being suspended by plural clip elements respectively seated in plural ones of said stringers; each of said stringers being a downwardly opening channel member having two downwardly diverging legs, said slots being provided in opposed pairs in said legs and extending transversely of the length of said stringers; and f. the upper portion of each said clip element comprising a pair of opposed tabs respectiveLy inserted in opposed slots formed respectively in the two legs of one of said stringers.
 2. An assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein a. each of said slots has opposite side edges lying in parallel planes; and b. the tabs of each said clip element are respectively bent in opposed directions out of parallelism with the side edges of the slots in which they are inserted, for engagement with edges on respectively different sides of the slots in which they are inserted, thereby to stabilize the position of the clip element.
 3. An assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein one of the tab members of each said clip element has a greater horizontal extent than the other tab member of the same clip element, to facilitate insertion of the tabs into opposed slots of a stringer.
 4. An assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein each tab of each said clip element has an upwardly and outwardly sloping lower edge with a shoulder provided therein to engage the lower edge of a slot in which the tab is inserted.
 5. An assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the spring clip portion of each said clip element comprises a plurality of depending spring fingers alternately resiliently biased in opposite directions for gripping the upper marginal portion of a panel inserted between them.
 6. An assembly as defined in claim 5, wherein a. the upper marginal portion of each of said panels has at least one longitudinal rib formed therein, and b. the spring fingers of each said clip elements have at least one groove formed therein for register with said one rib of a panel gripped by the spring fingers.
 7. An assembly as defined in claim 6, wherein a. the upper marginal portion of each of said panels has a second longitudinal rib formed therein below and parallel to said one rib, and b. the lower extremity of each spring finger of each said clip element is bent to conform to said second rib of a panel gripped by the spring fingers.
 8. An assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said stringers extend horizontally at a common level, and wherein the upper and lower portions of each said clip element are formed integrally and lie substantially in a common vertical plane, for suspending panels with major surfaces of the panels oriented vertically.
 9. An assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said stringers are pitched with their long dimensions at a common angle to the horizontal, and wherein the upper and lower portions of each said clip element are formed integrally, with the lower portion lying substantially in a vertical plane and the upper portion bent at an angle thereto, for suspending panels from the pitched stringers with major surfaces of the panels oriented vertically.
 10. A ceiling assembly comprising a. a plurality of spaced, parallel, elongated stringers each having a plurality of slots provided at spaced intervals along its length; b. means for suspending said stringers, substantially in a common plane, from superjacent structure; c. an array of horizontally elongated panels, each having opposed major surfaces oriented vertically, extending in spaced parallel relation to each other beneath and transversely of said stringers; and d. a plurality of clip elements, each having an upper portion seated in a slot of one of said stringers so as to be held thereby and a lower spring-clip portion grippingly engaging an upper marginal portion of one of said panels, for suspending said panels from said stringers, each said panel being suspended by plural clip elements respectively seated in plural ones of said stringers; e. the spring clip portion of each said clip element comprising a plurality of depending spring fingers alternately resiliently biased in opposite directions for gripping the upper marginal portion of a panel inserted between them.
 11. An assembly as defined in claim 10, wherein a. the upper marginal portion of each of said panels has at least one longitudinal rib formed therein, and b. tHe spring fingers of each said clip element having at least one groove formed therein for register with said one rib of a panel gripped by the spring fingers.
 12. An assembly as defined in claim 11, wherein a. the upper marginal portion of each of said panels has a second longitudinal rib formed therein below and parallel to said one rib, and b. the lower extremity of each spring finger of each said clip element is bent to conform to said second rib of a panel gripped by the spring fingers.
 13. A ceiling assembly comrising a. a plurality of spaced, parallel, elongated stringers each having a plurality of slots provided at spaced intervals along its length; b. means for suspending said stringers, substantially in a common plane, from superjacent structure; c. an array of horizontally elongated panels, each having opposed major surfaces oriented vertically, extending in spaced parallel relation to each other beneath and transversely of said stringers; and d. a plurality of clip elements, each having an upper portion seated in a slot of one of said stringers so as to be held thereby and a lower spring-clip portion grippingly engaging an upper marginal portion of one of said panels, for suspending said panels from said stringers, each said panel being suspended by plural clip elements respectively seated in plural ones of said stringers; e. said stringers being pitched with their long dimensions at a common angle to the horizontal; and f. the upper and lower portions of each said clip element being formed integrally, with the lower portion lying substantially in a vertical plane and the upper portion bent at an angle thereto, for suspending panels from the pitched stringers with major surfaces of the panels oriented vertically. 